Drafting table



June 6, 194 4.

J. J. DARBY DRAFTING TABLE l Filed Jan. 24, 1942 .6N Si mw., QN Aww ENmw mw .w a J. m DIIIIIIIIL wmlx TVHWWIII n. Nnllllr xllllnll u -I4 wm.kw mw NH Us r) .NME

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Patented June 6, 41944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAFTING TABLE JohnJ. Darby, Portland, Oreg.

Application January 24, 1942, Serial No. 428,082 1 claim. (o1. 454131)(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370O. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and usedby or for the Goverment for gOVeInmental purposes, without the paymentto me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to drafting tables, but more particularly to adrafting table having a translucent illuminated drawing surface adaptedto facilitate the making of tracings of all types of photographicprints, as well as original drawings.

One object of the invention is to provide a drafting table having auniformly illuminated drawing surface adapted to render the drawing tobe traced thereon translucent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table having a drawingsurface which is rendered translucent by fluorescent lamps to thusreduce the heating effect without diminishing the degree ofillumination.

Another object of the invention is to provide a durable drafting tablewhich is of simple construction, easily manufactured at a low cost, andone which is efficient in operation.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certaindetails of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which willhereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed.

Referring to the figures in which like parts are indicated by similarreference characters:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the improved drawing table, showing thetranslucent drawing surface beneath which are located a battery offluorescent lamps;

Fig. 2 is a. front elevation of the drawing table showing the relativepositions of the translucent drawing surface, the fluorescent lamps andthe reflector;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the table; and

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the` line 4 4 of Fi 1.

rieily stated, the improved device which forms the subject matter ofthis invention comprises a drafting table provided with a translucenttop which is illuminated with a battery of fluorescent lamps.

Referring to the drawing in which like parts are designated by similarreference characters, the numeral I designates the base or support, andthe numeral I I a top member or frame into which is fitted a plate oftranslucent material I2 which functions as a drawing board, the wholestructure forming a drafting table similar in outline to those mostgenerally used.

The base is formed With four uprights or legs I3 braced longitudinallyby cross members I 4, I4' and I5 and laterally by cross members I0 andIG. To the upper extremities of the legs I3 are attached longitudinaland lateral members I 1, Il' and I8, I8' which form a rectangular frameinto which is removably fitted the rectangular plate of translucentglass or plastic material I2.

Beneath the frame member, the legs are drilled with equally spaced holes20 to receive bolts 2I. These bolts support longitudinal cross members22 and 22 upon which are mounted a battery of fluorescent lamp tubes 23,which bridge the cross members 22 and 22', and are adapted to illuminatethe translucent plate I2. The degree of illumination of the fluorescentlamps is controlled through a switch box 24 attached to the forwardlongitudinal cross member 22. 'I'he cross members 22 and 22 whichsupport the battery of lamps 23 may be adjusted vertically by placingthe bolts 2I in any four of the holes 20 which will give the desiredheight.

Below the battery of fluorescent tubes 23 is placed a. reflector 25which may consist of a ply- Wood board, the upper surface of which ispainted white to produce a suitable reflecting surface.

The frame which supports the translucent plate or drawing board I2 isindented with thumb holes or nitches 26 to facilitate the removal of thefluorescent sheet for cleaning the same.

The cross members I6 and I6' and the center longitudinally extendingmember I5 may be utilized to support a shelf 2l as shown in Figs. 2 and3.

The use of tubular fluorescent lamps prevents overheating of thetranslucent plate or drawing surface, and by arranging these lights inthe manner shown and providing a reflector beneath them a uniformillumination of the drawing surface is effected.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and Wish to secure byLetters Patent is:

A drafting table of the class described comprising a top memberconsisting of a frame, a translucent plate removably mounted wthin saidframe and disposed in a horizontal plane, a support for said framehaving legs provided with equally spaced holes, an illuminating sourceincluding a battery of parallelly arranged laterally spaced fluorescenttubes, substantially coextensive with the area of the translucent plate,and mounted upon horizontal cross members beneath and parallel to saidplate, means associated with said cross members adapted to selectivelyengage the holes in said legs to support the battery of fluorescenttubes parallel to said translucent plate at various distances beneathsaid plate to thereby effect the uniform illumination thereof andprovide for the regulation of the intensity of said illumination withrespect to said plate, and a horizontally disposed reflecting surface,corresponding in area to that of said frame, located beneath saidilluminating source, and removably associated with its support.

JOHN J. DARBY.

